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SOURCE: Federal Register, December 14, 2000
National Park Service
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/General Management Plan; Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, CA; Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service, Department
of the Interior, has prepared a draft environmental impact statement assessing the
potential impacts of the proposed General Management Plan (GMP) for Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area. This conservation planning and environmental impact analysis
effort to date has identified and analyzed five alternatives (and appropriate mitigation
strategies) for the management and use of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area over the next fifteen to twenty years.
Proposal and Alternatives: The draft environmental impact statement
(DEIS) includes five alternatives, including the ``no action'' (existing conditions)
alternative. The No Action Alternative assumes that physical facilities would remain
largely unchanged and staffing and operational funding would remain relatively constant
over the next fifteen to twenty years. The Preferred Alternative incorporates the
exceptional elements of all of the alternatives to provide protection of significant
natural and cultural resources while promoting compatible recreation and educational
opportunities. The Preservation Alternative emphasizes the preservation of all natural and
cultural systems and removing some park-related development. Virtual media and exhibits
would provide visitors with alternative experiences and information. Visitor disturbance
would be reduced while visitor appreciation for the resource would increase. The Education
Alternative would promote strong environmental and cultural education programs that reach
the public and especially the school systems. The Recreation Alternative maximizes
recreation with any new park development in non-sensitive areas.
Comments: Printed or CD-ROM copies of the DEIS are available for public
review at Park Headquarters, as well as at many public libraries and federal offices in
southern California. In addition the document is posted on the internet at
www.nps.gov/samo. Inquiries and requests for copies may also be directed to:
Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive,
Thousand Oaks, California, 91360. The telephone number for the park is (805) 370-2300.
Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies wishing to provide information or
suggest issues and concerns to be addressed in future land management are encouraged to
address these to the Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. All
written comments must be postmarked not later than February
28, 2001.
Public Meetings: Five public meetings will be held in the vicinity
surrounding the park. The particular locations selected for these meetings were determined
based upon responses received from the public during the scoping process. The meetings
scheduled are: February 5, 2001 (Calabasas/Agoura Hills); February 6, 2001 (Santa
Monica); February 7, 2001 (Los Angeles); February 8, 2001 (Malibu); February 9, 2001
(Thousand Oaks). Confirmed details as to specific locations and times will be
announced in local newspapers, available at the internet site identified above, or can be
obtained by calling the park at (805) 370-2341.
Decision: After the formal DEIS review period has concluded, all comments
and suggestions received will be considered in preparing the final EIS. Currently the
final EIS is anticipated in the fall of 2001; its availability will be similarly announced
in the Federal Register. Subsequently a Record of Decision would be executed no sooner
than 30 (thirty) days after the release of the final EIS. The official responsible for
approval of the DEIS/GMP is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; the official
responsible for implementation of the approved GMP is the Superintendent, Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreation Area.
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